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32% growth in year-on-year dollar revenues. Strong bookings drive order backlog approximately 30% higher at the end of 2004 compared to the end of 2003
CAMBRIDGE, UK, 26 January 2005 - ARM Holdings plc [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMHY)] announces its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and twelve months ended 31 December 2004
HIGHLIGHTS (Figures in US GAAP)
Fourth quarter ended 31 December 2004
Note: The acquisition of Artisan Components, Inc. was completed on 23 December 2004. The Q4 profit and loss account reported below does not include any material trading results in respect of Artisan. However, the balance sheet at 31 December 2004 does reflect the acquisition of Artisan. References to the order backlog at 31 December 2004 relate to legacy ARM business only. Comparisons in this statement to Q3 2004, Q4 2003 and full year 2003 results are also to ARM legacy business only.
Twelve months ended 31 December 2004
* Dollar revenues are based on the group's actual dollar invoicing, where applicable, and using the rate of exchange applicable on the date of the transaction for invoicing in currencies other than dollars. Approximately 90% of invoicing is in dollars.
** The actual average dollar exchange rates were $1.87 in Q4 2004 (compared to the effective average rate for ARM of $1.80), $1.82 in Q3 2004 and $1.64 in full year 2003
*** Net cash generation is the movement in cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and long-term marketable securities as per the balance sheets at the beginning and end of the relevant periods
**** Each American Depositary Share (ADS) represents three shares
Commenting on the fourth quarter and full year results, Sir Robin Saxby, Chairman, said:
"We are delighted that a year of strong operational performance for ARM was concluded with the completion of our merger with Artisan. I would like to thank the management and employees of both companies who worked tirelessly to make the merger happen. The combination of ARM® microprocessor IP with the physical IP provided by Artisan accelerates ARM's momentum towards becoming the architecture for the digital age. We also are pleased that the ARM Board has been strengthened by the appointment of 4 new directors; their knowledge and experience will be invaluable assets."
Warren East, Chief Executive Officer, added:
"32% year-on-year growth in dollar revenues in 2004 and the positive trend in our order backlog indicate that the ARM stand-alone business is in robust shape. We look forward to 2005 with confidence as we start to realise the benefits arising from the merger with Artisan at the end of last year. Against a likely flatter trading environment in our industry, we expect dollar revenues in the underlying businesses to grow by at least 20% in 2005."
Tim Score, Chief Financial Officer, added:
"Again in Q4, revenue growth and careful cost control have combined to yield strong cash generation from ARM's business. We were also particularly encouraged by the strong sequential improvement in licensing revenues, demonstrating that ARM continues to develop a broad range of new technologies which bring real benefit to the ARM Connected Community and end customers."
Operating review
Market conditions, current trading and prospects
After strong year-on-year growth for the semiconductor industry in 2004, current expectations for 2005 are that there will be little or no growth over 2004. Despite this likely flatter trading environment, we expect 2005 to be a year of growth in dollar revenues for the company.
Both the former ARM and Artisan stand-alone businesses enter 2005 with healthy order backlogs and sales pipelines which underpin licensing revenues this year. In addition, both companies continue to enjoy good momentum in royalty revenues based on the increasing adoption of ARM and Artisan technology by semiconductor and OEM companies in recent years. The healthy order backlog and sales pipeline and strong momentum in royalty revenues gives confidence that dollar revenues in both underlying businesses are capable of growing by at least 20% in 2005.
The group remains exposed to any further weakening in the US dollar against sterling given that more than 90% of total group revenues are earned in US dollars. Following the acquisition of Artisan, approximately 45% of the group's cost base will be incurred in US dollars, compared to approximately 25% for ARM prior to the acquisition of Artisan.
Licensing and product development
Taking into account the 19 licenses for microprocessor cores that were signed in Q4 2004, a total of 65 licenses were signed in 2004 (compared to 51 licenses in 2003), comprising 31 multi-use licenses and 34 per-use licenses. Of the 65 licenses signed in 2004, 15 were for products in the ARM11™ family, 31 were for products in the ARM9™ family, 15 were for products in the ARM7 family, 3 were for next-generation ARM processors and one was an architecture license. 15 companies became new ARM partners in the year, bringing the total number of semiconductor partners at the end of 2004 to 140. Of the 15 new partners signed in 2004, 2 took multi-use licenses and 13 took per-use licenses.
Licensing activity in 2004 demonstrates both the breadth of ARM's technology offer as well as the longevity of the products. For example, our partners have now been licensing products in the ARM7 family for more than 11 years, including an incremental 13 ARM7 family licenses in 2004. We expect that licensing of ARM7 family products will continue for some time, demonstrating the relevance of having leading-edge technology at all performance points in the embedded microprocessor space.
Licensing of products in the ARM11 family continues to gather momentum with a further 15 licenses being signed in 2004, making a total of 25 licenses signed to date. As ARM11 products move into the mainstream licensing phase, it is encouraging that licensing of the next generation of ARM technology has commenced in 2004. We have now signed 3 lead partners for our "Tiger" product. Other new technologies planned for delivery in 2005 are now available for licensing. Further details of these products will be disclosed later in 2005.
The strong licensing performance has driven a further increase in the order backlog in the quarter, resulting in backlog at the end of Q4 being up some 15% sequentially and being approximately 30% higher than at the end of 2003.
Revenues from licensing of products other than microprocessors comprised 18% of total license revenues in 2004, compared to 17% in 2003.
Following the acquisition of Adelante Technologies N.V., now ARM Belgium, in 2003, we formally announced the launch of our OptimoDE™ embedded signal processing technology in May 2004. This new technology, having undergone a series of rigorous benchmarking evaluations by our partners and potential partners, is now beginning to generate license revenues. In November 2004, we announced that Thomson had licensed our OptimoDE Data Engine for the development of broadcast video processing integrated circuits (ICs) and in January 2005, we announced that LG Electronics had licensed the OptimoDE solution for use in its video encoding and decoding product lines, with the first LG product scheduled to benefit from the technology being an H.264 based high-definition digital television. ARM has introduced this disruptive technology to address the processing requirements of very data-intensive applications across all end markets, which are often outstripping the capabilities of general-purpose digital signal processors (DSPs). The OptimoDE product, which comprises a configurable data engine (signal processor) together with related IP and tools, will be deployed in systems alongside existing ARM microprocessor cores and other ARM technology, including the electronic system level (ESL) design tools from Axys, acquired in August 2004.
The acquisition of Axys, a provider of fast, accurate, integrated, processor and system modelling and simulation solutions, brings ESL expertise to our RealView® design tools portfolio. Axys' ESL products reduce overall system costs by allowing designs to be modelled early in the development cycle, decreasing time-to-market and minimising design errors.
In the second quarter 2004 we established an embedded software group within ARM to capitalise on the opportunities we see to generate revenues from software. This team will drive growth in embedded software revenue, building on the strong foundation of the existing Jazelle® acceleration technology, Intelligent Energy Manager (IEM) technology, TrustZone™ security software and Swerve (co-developed with Superscape Group plc) technologies and bring more focus to the development of enabling software technology to support further growth of microprocessor and physical IP licensing, development systems and data engines revenues.
Royalty revenues and unit shipments
Royalty revenues have grown strongly in 2004. Royalty revenues earned in 2004 were £59.6 million on 1,272 million units shipped compared to £44.3 million on 782 million units shipped in 2003. Dollar royalty revenues earned in 2004 were $107.1 million, up 50% on 2003 compared to the increase in year-on-year unit shipments of 63%. Over the last 3 years average royalty rates per unit have been 8.4 cents in 2004, 9.1 cents in 2003 and 8.3 cents in 2002, indicating that whilst average royalty rates may move up or down in the short term, they have tended to remain stable over a longer period.
Royalty revenues recognised in the quarter ended 31 December 2004 (we receive and report royalty data one quarter in arrears) were $29.4 million on 367 million units shipped, up 37% and 56%, respectively, on the same period a year ago. The average royalty rate per unit reported in the fourth quarter was 8.0 cents compared to 8.4 cents per unit in the third quarter. The sequential reduction in average royalty rate is due to several of our partners shipping higher volumes of more mature ARM7 and ARM9 family-based product in the third quarter. Of the total unit shipments reported in the fourth quarter, 24% related to units based on ARM9 family technology. As products based on the older ARM9 family technologies have only been shipping for a relatively short period, a number of our partners are moving through volume-related price breaks that is having an impact on the weighted average royalty rate. Unit shipments based on the ARM926EJ-S™ microprocessor accounted for approximately 3% of total shipments in the quarter. The proportion of ARM926EJ-S processor-based devices is expected to increase over the next several quarters.
In 2004, the proportion of total unit shipments accounted for by the wireless segment was 68%, representing 868 million units. The 32% relating to the aggregate shipments in all sectors other than wireless represents 405 million units in 2004, more than triple the 119 million units shipped in 2002, demonstrating the increasing penetration of ARM technology in the full range of digital products. In 2004 unit shipments have grown strongly across all segments with particularly strong growth in the microcontroller, storage and consumer segments.
Acquisition of Artisan Components, Inc.
The acquisition of Artisan was completed on 23 December 2004. The combination of ARM and Artisan's complementary product portfolios, sales channels and customer bases allows the combined company to provide one of the broadest offerings of system-on-chip (SoC) IP to their expanded customer base. The combination of ARM and Artisan's complementary and innovative business models is expected to generate revenue benefits, some cost savings from the consolidation of selected corporate functions, an attractive margin structure and strong cash flow generation.
From a technology standpoint, the combined company will seek to leverage Artisan's expertise in designing physical IP components, essential building blocks of ICs, with ARM's complementary expertise in designing microprocessors. As a result, alongside the physical IP available for use with third party microprocessors, the combined company will be able to develop IP components that are highly optimised for use in and with ARM microprocessor cores. The opportunities for tighter integration and finer tuning of the IP components with the microprocessor cores has the potential to produce substantial benefits for end users, such as reduced power consumption and increased processor speed.
The integration of the two businesses is proceeding as planned. The former Artisan business now forms the Physical IP division of ARM, with one unified worldwide sales force being responsible for selling the full range of products offered by the combined company. ARM's office in Los Gatos, California will close in March 2005, with employees relocating to Artisan's Sunnyvale facility, the new headquarters for ARM in the US.
Good momentum was maintained in the Artisan business during the fourth quarter with total bookings being consistent with the levels achieved in recent quarters. In anticipation of the acquisition of the company by ARM, Artisan elected to carry forward as much backlog as possible into 2005. Total revenues in the quarter were $15 million, comprising license revenues of $7 million and royalty revenues of $8 million. A significant proportion of engineering effort in the quarter was directed towards research and development projects and technical marketing activity, rather than converting order backlog into revenue. As a result of the good bookings in the quarter and the decision not to convert backlog into revenue, the backlog at 31 December is well ahead of the prior quarter.
Board changes
Mark Templeton and Lucio Lanza joined the Board on completion of the acquisition of Artisan on 23 December 2004. Mark Templeton, the former Chief Executive Officer of Artisan, has become the General Manager of ARM's Physical IP division and an executive director of ARM Holdings plc. Lucio Lanza, the former Chairman of Artisan, is serving as a non-executive director.
On 4 January 2005, ARM announced the appointments of Simon Segars as an executive director and Philip Rowley as an independent non-executive director.
Simon Segars joined ARM's engineering team in 1991. He has worked on many ARM CPU products and has held a number of engineering management positions. In January 2002 he was appointed Executive Vice President, Engineering and in January 2004 became Executive Vice President, Worldwide Sales.
Philip Rowley is President and CEO of AOL Europe, the interactive services, web brands, internet technologies and e-commerce provider. He is a qualified chartered accountant and was Group Finance Director of Kingfisher plc from August 1998 to March 2001. Prior to that his roles have included Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of EMI Music Worldwide.
These appointments recognise the valuable contribution that Simon is already making to the direction of the business and Philip's broad industry experience which will further strengthen the non-executive team.
ARM had 1,171 full time employees at the end of 2004 including 347 employees who joined the group as part of the Artisan acquisition. At the year-end, the group had 546 employees based in the UK, 454 in the US, 79 in Continental Europe, 51 in India and 41 in the Asia Pacific region.
Legal matters
In May 2002, Nazomi Communications, Inc. filed suit against ARM alleging willful infringement of Nazomi's US Patent No. 6,332,215. ARM answered Nazomi's complaint in July 2002 denying infringement. ARM moved for summary judgement and a ruling that the accused technology does not infringe. In September 2003, the United States District Court of Northern California granted ARM's motion, holding that the accused technology does not infringe Nazomi's patent. Nazomi appealed the District Court's ruling. On 7 September 2004, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit heard the appeal and the decision of the Court is expected in the first half of 2005. Based on legal advice received to date, ARM has no cause to believe that the effect of the original ruling by the District Court will not be upheld.
Financial review
(US GAAP unless otherwise stated)
Fourth quarter ended 31 December 2004
Total revenues
Total revenues for the fourth quarter ended 31 December 2004 amounted to £41.5 million, representing a 5% increase from £39.4 million in the third quarter of 2004 and a 22% increase over fourth quarter 2003 revenues of £34.0 million. In US dollar terms*, fourth quarter revenues of $74.7 million were 7% up on Q3 2004 and 31% up on Q4 2003. The effective US dollar to sterling exchange rate for ARM in Q4 2004 was $1.80 compared to $1.78 in Q3 2004 and $1.68 in Q4 2003.
License revenues
License revenues amounted to £16.2 million representing 39% of revenues compared to £14.6 million or 37% of revenues in the third quarter of 2004 and £12.9 million or 38% of revenues in Q4 2003. In US dollar terms*, license revenues of $28.8 million in Q4 2004 were 13% ahead of the $25.6 million reported in Q3 2004.
Nineteen licenses for microprocessor cores were signed in the fourth quarter of 2004. Four new partners took a total of five per use licenses; four to the ARM926EJ-S processor and one license to the ARM922T™ processor.
Nine existing partners took licenses to a further 14 cores, comprising 3 derivatives from the ARM7 family, 5 derivatives and 1 upgrade to the ARM9 family, 3 upgrades to the ARM11 family and 2 upgrades to next-generation ARM cores.
Royalty revenues
Royalty revenues in the fourth quarter were £16.3 million accounting for 39% of revenues compared to £16.0 million or 40% of revenues in the third quarter of 2004 and £12.8 million or 38% of revenues in Q4 2003.
Development Systems and Service revenues
Sales of development systems were £5.6 million, representing 14% of total revenues compared to £5.3 million or 14% of total revenues in the third quarter of 2004 and £4.0 million or 12% of revenues in the fourth quarter of 2003. In US dollar terms, development systems revenues were $10.4 million this quarter compared to $9.7 million in Q3. Service revenues were £3.4 million, representing 8% of total revenues, comprising consulting fees of £0.2 million and support, maintenance and training fees of £3.2 million compared to total service revenues of £3.5 million in the third quarter of 2004 and £4.3 million for the corresponding period in 2003.
Gross margins
Gross margins for the fourth quarter were 91.0%, compared to 92.8% in Q3 2004 and 90.6% in Q4 2003. The decrease from Q3 reflects the increased proportion of license revenues in the fourth quarter earned from our strategic relationship with Imagination Technologies for licensing of 3D graphics technology.
Operating expenses
Total operating expenses in the quarter were £34.4 million compared to £25.2 million in the third quarter of 2004 and £29.6 million in Q4 2003. Operating expenses in Q4 2004 include total non-recurring and acquisition-related charges of £8.2 million, being £3.3 million for the write-off of in-process research and development costs on the acquisitions of Artisan and Axys, £0.4 million related to the amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisitions and £4.5 million in respect of a technology license agreement (see below). Excluding non-recurring and acquisition-related charges, total operating expenses in the quarter were £26.2 million.
In November 2004, ARM entered into a technology license agreement whereby ARM will pay $13.3 million in four equal, semi-annual installments over the next two years. The first installment of $3.3 million was paid in Q4 2004. For accounting purposes, the agreement is deemed to comprise a retrospective element amounting to $8.6 million (£4.5 million), which has been charged to the profit and loss account as a non-recurring charge in Q4 2004, and a prospective element amounting to $4.7 million (£2.4 million), which has been accounted for as a prepayment at 31 December 2004.
Research and development expenses were £13.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2004, representing 31% of revenues. This compares to £13.0 million or 33% of revenues in Q3 2004. Sales and marketing costs for the fourth quarter were £6.3 million or 15% of revenues compared to £6.0 million or 15% of revenues in the third quarter of 2004. General and administration expenses in Q4 2004 were £11.3 million, including a non-recurring charge of £4.5 million in respect of a technology licensing agreement. Excluding this non-recurring charge, general and administration expenses in the quarter were £6.8 million or 16% of revenues compared to £6.2 million or 16% of revenues, in the third quarter of 2004.
Operating margins
The operating margin in Q4 was 8.2% compared to 3.5% in Q4 2003. The operating margin, excluding non-recurring and acquisition-related charges of £8.2 million, was 28.0%(6.1) compared to 30.0%(6.2) in Q3 2004, before acquisition-related charges of £0.4 million, and 22.4%(6.3), before non-recurring and acquisition-related charges of £6.4 million, in Q4 2003.
Interest receivable
Interest receivable in the fourth quarter was £1.9 million, the same level as in Q3, with the benefit of higher average cash balances being offset by the impact of monies being invested for shorter periods in anticipation of the payment of the cash consideration for the acquisition of Artisan at the end of the quarter.
Earnings and taxation
Income before income tax for the fourth quarter of 2004 was £5.3 million compared to £2.5 million in Q4 2003. Income before income tax, excluding non-recurring and acquisition-related charges of £8.2 million, was £13.5 million or 33% of revenues compared to £13.7 million, excluding £0.4 million of acquisition-related charges, or 35% of revenues in the third quarter of 2004, and £8.9 million, before non-recurring and acquisition-related charges of £6.4 million, or 26% of revenues in Q4 2003.
Fourth quarter fully diluted earnings per share prepared under US GAAP were 0.4 pence (2.4 cents per ADS****) compared to a loss per share of 0.04 pence (loss of 0.2 cents per ADS****) in Q4 2003. Earnings per fully diluted share in Q4 2004, before non-recurring and acquisition-related charges of £8.2 million, were 1.2 pence(6.6) (6.8 cents per ADS****) (Q3 2004: 1.0 pence(6.7) and 5.2 cents) compared to 0.6 pence(6.8) (3.1 cents per ADS****), before non-recurring and acquisition-related charges of £6.4 million, in Q4 2003
Cash flow
Net cash generation*** in the quarter, before cash costs of £126.2 million related to the acquisition of Artisan, was £10.1 million(6.5). The consolidated cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and long-term marketable securities balance was £142.8 million(6.4) at 31 December 2004. Further fees and expenses related to the acquisition of Artisan of approximately £14 million are expected to be paid subsequent to 31 December 2004 giving an adjusted opening cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and long-term marketable securities balance of the enlarged group of £128.8 million (equivalent to $247 million at year end exchange rates) at the start of 2005.
Twelve months ended 31 December 2004
Total revenues for the twelve months ended 31 December 2004 amounted to £152.9 million, an increase of 19% over total revenues of £128.1 million in the twelve months ended 31 December 2003. The actual average dollar exchange rate in 2004 was $1.83 (with an effective average exchange rate for ARM of $1.78) compared to $1.64 in 2003. This has had the effect of reducing total reported revenues by approximately £13.2 million.
Licensing revenues in 2004 were £59.4 million, being 39% of total revenues, compared to £50.8 million or 40% of total revenues in 2003. Royalty revenues in 2004 were £59.7 million, representing 39% of total revenues, compared to £44.3 million or 34% of total revenues in 2003. Sales of development systems in 2004 were £19.7 million, being 13% of total revenues, compared to £17.9 million or 14% of total revenues in 2003. Service revenues, which include consulting services and revenues from support, maintenance and training, were £14.2 million in 2004, representing 9% of total revenues, compared to £15.1 million or 12% of total revenues in 2003.
Gross margins
Gross margins for the twelve months to 31 December 2004 were 92.3% compared to 91.4% in 2003.
Operating expenses
Total operating expenses in the twelve months to 31 December 2004 were £109.6 million compared to £99.8 million in 2003. Operating expenses in 2004 include total non-recurring and acquisition-related charges of £8.7 million, being £3.6 million for the write-off of in-process research and development costs on the acquisitions of Artisan and Axys, £0.6 million related to the amortisation of intangible assets arising on acquisitions and £4.5 million in respect of a technology license agreement. Excluding non-recurring and acquisition-related charges, total operating expenses in 2004 were £100.9 million.
Research and development expenses were £50.1 million in 2004, representing 33% of revenues. This compares to £48.1 million or 38% of revenues in 2003. Sales and marketing costs in 2004 were £23.9 million or 16% of revenues compared to £23.0 million or 18% of revenues in 2003. General and administration expenses in 2004 were £31.3 million, including a non-recurring charge of £4.5 million in respect of a technology licensing agreement. Excluding this non-recurring charge, general and administration expenses in 2004 were £26.8 million or 18% of revenues compared to £22.3 million or 17% of revenues, before a non-recurring charge of £6.4 million, in 2003.
Operating margins
The operating margin in 2004 was 20.6% compared to 13.5% in 2003. The operating margin in 2004, excluding non-recurring and acquisition-related charges of £8.7 million, was 26.3%(6.11) compared to 18.5%(6.12), before non-recurring and acquisition-related charges of £6.4 million, in 2003.
Interest receivable
Interest receivable was £6.9 million for the twelve months to 31 December 2004 compared to £4.8 million in 2003, reflecting the benefit of higher average cash balances and higher interest rates in 2004.
Earnings and taxation
Income before income tax in 2004 was £38.5 million compared to £22.0 million in 2003. Income before income tax in 2004, excluding non-recurring and acquisition-related charges of £8.7 million, was £47.2 million or 31% of revenues compared to £28.4 million, before non-recurring and acquisition-related charges of £6.4 million, or 22% of revenues in 2003.
The group's taxation rate under US GAAP in 2004 was 27.2% compared to 40.7% in 2003. The reduction is due primarily to the lower level of disallowable items and increased availability of research and development tax credits in the UK in 2004 compared to 2003. The group's taxation rate under UK GAAP in 2004 is 24.1%, reduced from 34.3% in 2003. The difference in the group's tax rate under US and UK GAAP arises primarily from tax deductions arising on the exercise of employee share options being included in the tax charge under UK GAAP but being recorded as an increase in shareholders' funds under US GAAP.
Fully diluted earnings per share prepared under US GAAP in 2004 were 2.7 pence (15.4 cents per ADS****) compared to 1.3 pence (6.8 cents per ADS****) in 2003. Earnings per fully diluted share in 2004, before non-recurring and acquisition-related charges of £8.7 million, were 3.5 pence(6.9) (20.1 cents per ADS****) compared to 1.9 pence(6.10) (10.1 cents per ADS****), before non-recurring and acquisition-related charges of £6.4 million, in 2003.
Balance sheet and cash flow
Intangible assets at 31 December 2004 were £414.3 million compared to £10.1 million at 31 December 2003, comprising goodwill of £339.7 million and other intangible assets of £74.6 million. Goodwill is no longer amortised under US GAAP but is subject to impairment on at least an annual basis. The other intangible assets will be amortised through the profit and loss account over a weighted average period of 5 years. Goodwill and intangible assets arising on the acquisition of Artisan amounted to £330.7 million and £70.1 million respectively.
Accounts receivable at 31 December 2004 were £34.3 million, including £14.0 million relating to Artisan, compared to £20.6 million at 30 September 2004 and £17.3 million at 31 December 2003. The allowance against receivables was £1.5 million at 31 December 2004. Deferred revenues were £21.4 million at 31 December 2004, including £7.3 million relating to Artisan, compared to £12.6 million at the end of Q3 2004 and £11.1 million at the end of 2003.
The consolidated cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and long-term marketable securities balance was £142.8 million(6.4) at 31 December 2004 compared to £159.8 million(6.13) at 31 December 2003. In 2004, £122.3 million was paid as the cash element of the consideration for the acquisition of Artisan, £3.9 million of fees and expenses were paid in respect of the acquisition of Artisan prior to 31 December 2004 and net cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and long-term marketable securities amounting to £82.6 million were acquired on completion of the Artisan transaction. A further £14 million of fees and expenses related to the Artisan transaction are expected to be paid subsequent to 31 December 2004.
Reconciliation of US and UK GAAP
Profit for the year to 31 December 2004 under US GAAP is £28.0 million compared to £32.0 million when measured under UK GAAP. The difference arises primarily as a result of in-process research and development costs of £3.6 million arising on acquisition being written off under US GAAP but not under UK GAAP.
A detailed reconciliation of profit for the year and shareholders' funds at 31 December 2004 between US and UK GAAP is set out below.
The directors recommend payment of a final dividend in respect of 2004 of 0.42 pence per share, which taken together with the interim dividend of 0.28 pence per share paid in October 2004, gives a total dividend in respect of 2004 of 0.7 pence per share, an increase of 17% over 0.6 pence per share in 2003. Subject to shareholder approval, the final dividend will be paid on 6 May 2005 to shareholders on the register on 1 April 2005.
Sarah Marsland/James Melville-Ross/Juliet Clarke
Tim Score
Financial Dynamics
ARM Holdings plc
+44 (0) 20 7831 3113
+44 (0)1223 400 432
The financial information contained in this announcement does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 (3) of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts of the Company in respect of the financial year ended 31 December 2003 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies, upon which the Company's auditors have given a report which was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 237(2) or Section 237(3) of that Act.
About ARM
ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM's comprehensive product offering includes 16/32-bit RISC microprocessors, data engines, 3D processors, digital libraries, embedded memories, peripherals, software and development tools, as well as analog functions and high-speed connectivity products. Combined with the company's broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. More information on ARM is available at <http://www.arm.com/>
ARM, Jazelle and RealView are registered trademarks of ARM Limited. ARM7, ARM9, ARM926EJ, ARM7, ARM9, ARM926EJ, ARM922T, ARM11, TrustZone and OptimoDE are trademarks of ARM Limited. Artisan Components and Artisan are registered trademarks of ARM Physical IP, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ARM. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. ARM refers to ARM Holdings plc (LSE: ARM and Nasdaq: ARMHY) together with its subsidiaries including ARM Limited, ARM Inc., ARM Physical IP Inc., Axys Design Automation Inc., Axys GmbH; ARM KK, ARM Korea Ltd, ARM Taiwan Ltd, ARM France SAS, ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.; ARM Belgium NV.; and ARM Embedded Solutions Pvt. Ltd.


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Judge Debra Nelson ruled Monday that jurors in the George Zimmerman trial will be allowed to hear about marijuana found in Trayvon Martin's system the night he was fatally shot.
Prosecutors argued the amount was so minimal that "we just don't know" what effect it had on Martin. They also accused the defense of trying to "backdoor some very negative character evidence" into the trial.
But the defense said the amount found in Martin's system would have had an impact on his judgment that night and is therefore relevant to the case.
The judge ruled she would allow the testimony about Martin's toxicology results in front of the jury and told the prosecutors they would have their chance to cross-examine the defense's witness and present rebuttal witnesses of its own.
Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder for killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, on February 26, 2012. Zimmerman told police he was pursuing the teenager because there had been a rash of crime in the area. A confrontation ensued, and Zimmerman said he was forced to kill Martin.
INTERACTIVE TIMELINE: The George Zimmerman Case
Protests were held around the country, calling for Zimmerman's arrest for Martin's death. Zimmerman was eventually charged with second-degree murder in April of 2012. The case has reinvigorated national conversations about race, racial profiling and self-defense laws.
Trayvon Martin's father, Tracy, took the stand on Monday to describe what he heard in the background of a 911 call made by one of Zimmerman's neighbor.
"Basically what I was listening to, I was listening to my son's last cry for help. I was listening to his life being taken and I was trying to come to grips with that -- that Trayvon was here no more. It was just tough," said Martin.
Read more: Was Trayvon Martin impaired by marijuana?
Earlier in the day, the defense called the former lead investigator from the Sanford Police Department, Chris Serino, who said Martin told him "no," under his breath, when asked if the voice belonged to his son.
Another investigator, Doris Singleton, also said there was no doubt Martin told them it wasn't his son screaming for help on that 911 call.
"He was very upset, he was very sad, he hung his head, he cried," said Singleton. "I was choked up myself. I had to stand back. I could feel how he must feel because I have children. I was choked up by it – I felt horrible for him."
But Martin testified that he never said it wasn't his son. He said that he pushed his chair away from the desk where he was listening to the call and told investigators he "couldn't tell."
The man who trained George Zimmerman how to fight also testified on Monday that the former neighborhood watch captain didn't know how to throw a punch after training for almost a year.
Watch Tracy Martin testify: I couldn't identify voice on tape
"He was -- and I don't really like to use this terminology – soft, just physically soft. He was an overweight, large man -- and a very pleasant, nice man -- but physically soft," said Adam Pollack.
Zimmerman started taking grappling classes where Pollack said trainers teach chokeholds, arm locks and leg locks to students -- "Basically make the person say, 'Uncle,'" according to Pollack.
After his school schedule changed, Zimmerman moved on to boxing training, where he didn't advance beyond learning how to jab, according to Pollack.
When asked what level Zimmerman was at right before the shooting, Pollack said, "He's still learning how to punch. He didn't really know how to effectively punch."
"Did he ever get to the point where he could box somebody else?" asked defense attorney Mark O'Mara.
"Absolutely not," said Pollack.
Read more: 10 questions police should have asked Zimmerman
At one point during his testimony, Pollack stepped down from the witness stand to mount defense attorney O'Mara, who laid on the ground. O'Mara wanted Pollack to demonstrate what the technique "ground and pound" looks like.
A witness who saw the fight between Zimmerman and Martin testified earlier in the trial that it looked like a "ground and pound" and that Zimmerman was on the bottom.
Pollack showed how the person on top usually has the advantage in this position, which is associated with mixed martial arts fighting (MMA). Pollack demonstrated how his knees would be placed above the person's waist and explained how gravity helps the person on top punch the person on the bottom.
In a continued effort to show Zimmerman was not the aggressor in the altercation, the defense also called a slew of his friends on Monday to identify the voice heard screaming in the background of the 911 call made by a neighbor.
John Donnelly, a former Vietnam War combat medic, grew emotional on the stand as he explained why he thought the screams were made by his friend Zimmerman.
Watch: Did the prosecution prove its case?
Choking back tears, Donnelly explained that the reason he could identify the screams is due to his experience with war. During combat, Donnelly had to recognize the screams of his fellow soldiers and run to them when they needed help. He said he has heard a 250-pound man scream like a little girl.
"In the midst of combat, there are a lot people yelling and screaming," said Donnelly. "Sometimes they are screaming for help."
If the jury believes Zimmerman was screaming on the 911 call, it could buttress his claim that he was forced to shoot the teenager in self-defense. On the other hand, if the jury believes Martin was screaming on the 911 call, the jury may be convinced Zimmerman murdered the teenager.
Donnelly told the court that he views Zimmerman as a "son," but his close relationship with Zimmerman would not affect his testimony. Donnelly donated almost $3,000 to Zimmerman's defense fund and paid for $1,700 in suits for Zimmerman to wear during the trial.
Donnelly's testimony Monday was preceded by that of four of Zimmerman's other friends, who all said that they also recognized the screams on the 911 call as Zimmerman's voice. During cross-examinations, prosecutors focused on potential bias -- due to their close relationships with the defendant -- on the part of the witnesses.
The defense team told the judge that it expects to introduce Martin's toxicology reports sometime on Tuesday. Testimony is expected to resume at 9 a.m. ET.
HLN's live-blogging Zimmerman's trial. Click here for HLN's live blog of Friday's testimony. Read below for minute-by-minute updates:
6:39 p.m. ET: The judge says the prosecution can take a deposition of this witness now. There are no objections. The court will recess for the evening and the attorneys have been asked to return to court at 8:30 a.m. ET Tuesday.
6:31 p.m. ET: The judge is back on the bench. Prosecutor Mantei says the witness spoke to another defense witness and then made a new version of the animation. Mantei says this wasn't mentioned to prosecutors and that he needs time to look into it further through depositions.
6:20 p.m. ET: The defense expert has arrived. Defense attorney O'Mara and prosecutor Mantei are reviewing the computer reenactment. Once they're finished, the judge will be back on the bench to decide on its admissibility.
5:35 p.m. ET: The judge recesses court until the witness gets there. She tells the attorneys to meet with him to resolve their questions.
5:31 p.m. ET: The judge is back on the bench. Defense attorney O'Mara says the witness they're waiting on who created the animation is 10-15 minutes away.
5:10 p.m. ET: The attorneys are at a sidebar. The judge has recessed court for 15 minutes so the attorneys can discuss an animation.
5:08 p.m. ET: The judge won't allow a defense witness to testify that Zimmerman was reasonable in his use of deadly force and that he didn't break the law.
4:59 p.m. ET: Prosecutor Guy says the marijuana results need to have a definite effect on a person -- "In this case, we just don't know." Guy says Martin wasn't swaying while in 7-Eleven. He says the defense is trying to "backdoor some very negative character evidence." The defense tells the judge it plans to have a witness testify on this matter Tuesday. The judge says the prosecution will have a chance to cross-examine the witness and call rebuttal witnesses. She will allow the testimony about Martin's toxicology results.
4:52 p.m. ET: Defense attorney Don West says the medical examiner now says that THC from marijuana would have some affect on Martin's thinking. He also points out that Zimmerman said Martin looked like he was on "drugs or something." Martin was also swaying on surveillance video from 7-Eleven, according to West, and a lighter was found on him. He argues that the amount of marijuana found in Martin's system had some impact on his judgment and is very relevant to the case.
4:48 p.m. ET: Prosecutor John Guy says toxicology results showing marijuana in Trayvon Martin's system should be excluded from trial. He says there isn't enough to show it had any affect on him the night he was shot and would be highly prejudicial.
4:44 p.m. ET: The judge says she has reviewed Donnelly's deposition and the state had a chance to ask him about this background. She says she believes the defense should have told the state he had heard the 911 call but she won't strike Donnelly's testimony from the record.
4:42 p.m. ET: O'Mara says both sides could have played the 911 call for Donnelly during the deposition but didn't. He says the prosecutors should have to show what, exactly, they would have done differently if they knew Donnelly heard the 911 call on Saturday and was planning to testify about it.
4:39 p.m. ET: Mantei says intentionally keeping information from the prosecutors has hampered their ability to do a proper cross-examination.
4:37 p.m. ET: Prosecutor Richard Mantei is explaining to the judge how not knowing about this witness's testimony hurts their case. He says they would have tried to postpone questioning him in front of the jury to explore certain issues in a deposition. The judge asks what difference it would make if Donnelly heard the tape for the first time in court instead.
4:32 p.m. ET: The prosecution says it didn't know John Donnelly, who testified earlier today, was going to identify about the voice screaming on the 911 call as belonging to Zimmerman. In a deposition, Donnelly said he hadn't heard the calls.
4:29 p.m. ET: The judge has excused the jurors for the day. Testimony will resume at 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday. The judge is hearing some legal matters now.
4:27 p.m. ET: The possibility for influence in this case was potentially greater than other cases, according to Lee. He says that, if this were an investigation, they would question each family member separately. This witness has been excused.
4:24 p.m. ET: Lee explains how they do photo line ups. Prosecutor de la Rionda has finished his cross-examination.
4:20 p.m. ET: Lee says he believes the audio should have been played to the family members individually. He believes the 911 call was played to the family as a group in the mayor's office with no law enforcement officers present. He says he offered to be present but was excluded from the room. O'Mara has finished his direct examination.
4:18 p.m. ET: Lee says he knew the 911 call was going to be released to the Martin family so they could hear it. If you're showing a photo lineup, you should show it to each person individually "so their decision is not influenced," according to Lee. He says a similar process should be done with audio.
4:14 p.m. ET: The defense has called Bill Ray Lee Jr. to the witness stand. He is the former Chief of Police for the Sanford Police Department.
4:11 p.m. ET: The police said Martin told them it wasn't his son screaming on the call. Martin says he never told his lawyer to say that the police had lied. Tracy Martin has been excused.
4:09 p.m. ET:"You were playing that recording over and over. You were stilling dealing with his death?" asked de la Rionda, in reference to Martin listening to the call in the mayor's office.
"Yes," said Martin. "I was just trying to figure out... why did the defendant get out of his vehicle and chase my son?" said Martin.
The prosecutor has finished his questions.
4:07 p.m. ET:"Basically what I was listening to, I was listening to my son's last cry for help. I was listening to his life being taken and I was trying to come to grips with that, that Trayvon was here no more. It was just tough," said Martin.
4:05 p.m. ET:"You still, at that time, were in denial in the sense of not wanting to believe your son was dead?" asked prosecutor de la Rionda.
"Correct," said Martin.
"You realized that that was the shot -- " said de la Rionda.
"-- That killed my son, yes," said Martin.
"Did you really know what to do at that point?" asked de la Rionda.
"My world was, from that point until today, my world has just been turned upside down," said Martin.
4:01 p.m. ET: The day after the shooting, officers came to Martin's home and asked him to identify his son because he didn't have identification on him. Prosecutor de la Rionda asks if police showed him a picture of his son's body on the ground. The defense objects and the attorneys are at a sidebar.
3:59 p.m. ET:"It's very difficult to believe that Trayvon's not living. As I've said over and over, my best friend in life, and to have him gone is tragic," said Martin.
3:58 p.m. ET: O'Mara asks Martin about listening to the tape with family members at the mayor's office.
"After listening to the tape maybe 20 times, I said I knew it was Trayvon's voice. I didn't direct that towards any family members. Matter of fact, I think the family members had started leaving out the room. It was too much for them, they couldn't take it," said Martin.
O'Mara has finished his direct examination.
3:54 p.m. ET: The defense has called Trayvon Martin's father, Tracy Martin, to the stand. O'Mara is asking him about the voice heard screaming on the background of the call.
"As best as I recall, after he played the tape he basically just said, 'Do you recognize the voice?'" said Martin.
"And what was your response?" asked O'Mara.
"My response was that I didn't tell him, 'No that wasn't Trayvon.' I think I kind of pushed away from the table and kind of shook my head and said, 'I can't tell," said Martin. He says he has no knowledge of an enhanced version of the call and he didn't tell anyone he had listened to one.
3:50 p.m. ET: The jury is being seated.
3:39 p.m. ET: The judge is back on the bench and the attorneys are at a sidebar.
3:20 p.m. ET: The judge has recessed court for 15 minutes.
3:19 p.m. ET: When Zimmerman was last at the gym, Pollack says: "He had lost quite a bit of weight so he was in physically better shape but he still had a long way to go. He wasn't shredded and ripped like a competitive fighter." He agrees with O'Mara that he would still consider Zimmerman to be "soft" at this point. This witness has been excused.
3:18 p.m. ET: Pollack says Zimmerman was still working on his jab.
"He had not gotten proficient, truly proficient, with any of it," said Pollack. "He was a hard worker but he was no an accomplished athlete in any shape or form."
3:17 p.m. ET: Prosecutor Mantei has finished his cross-examination of Pollack. Defense attorney O'Mara is now asking more questions.
3:15 p.m. ET: Pollack says Zimmerman did several months of grappling classes then switched to boxing classes when his school schedule changed. He would have done a max of six hours per week of classes.
3:13 p.m. ET: Zimmerman would have learned foot work first, then how to hold his body position, then he would learn a jab, a straight right hand, then a hook and then combinations.
3:11 p.m. ET: Pollack says you can't arm-lock somebody from the ground position. "You have to be extremely skilled," said Pollack and agreed that Zimmerman didn't have the skills for this maneuver.
3:10 p.m. ET:"A one-minute round can seem like eternity if you're not in condition for it," said Pollack.
3:09 p.m. ET: Pollack says he wouldn't teach a beginner about the first blow strategy because they'd need the foundation first. He also says if you can't execute it well, it could leave you open to quick counter attack.
3:07 p.m. ET: Zimmerman was 250-260 pounds when he joined the gym and lost between 50-80 pounds, according to Pollack.
3:06 p.m. ET: Pollack says he doesn't know if Zimmerman joined another gym or was working out at home while taking a hiatus from his gym.
3:04 p.m. ET: Pollack says he would describe Zimmerman as "non-athletic."
"He was -- and I don't really like to use this terminology – soft, just physically soft. He was an overweight, large man, and a very pleasant, nice man. But physically soft," said Pollack. O'Mara has completed his direct examination.
3:01 p.m. ET: Pollack saw Zimmerman a few days after the shooting.
"He had black eyes, his nose was scraped up, he had some bandages on his head… he looked emotionally traumatized," said Pollack. "He had the look of a human being who had been through an extremely traumatic experience and was traumatized from it."
2:58 p.m. ET: Zimmerman was obese when he first came to the gym, according to Pollack. Both the dietary changes and exercise program helped Zimmerman get in better shape. Pollack wouldn't teach Zimmerman how to kick because "he didn't have a handle on punching."
2:57 p.m. ET: On a scale of 1 to 10 in regards to boxing proficiency, Pollack gives Zimmerman a 0.5 when he first started.
Pollack says Zimmerman never got in the ring -- "He wasn't skilled enough for that."
After training, Pollack says of Zimmerman: "He's still learning how to punch, he didn't really know how to effectively punch."
"Did he ever get to the point where he could box somebody else?" asked defense attorney O'Mara.
"Absolutely not," said Pollack.
2:53 p.m. ET: Pollack also gives Zimmerman "about a 1" on a scale of 10 when it comes to his overall athleticism.
2:52 p.m. ET: Pollack said that after a year of training, he would give Zimmerman a 1 or 1.5 on a scale of 10
"It's not that he made such little progress, it's a tremendous amount of work," said Pollack.
2:51 p.m. ET: Pollack gives Zimmerman a 0.5 on a scale of 10 before his training started. Pollack says Zimmerman trained for about a year, except for a few months of hiatus. He took classes on grappling, boxing and would occasionally come in on his own.
2:48 p.m. ET: Zimmerman wanted to box, but the classes didn't fit his schedule, so Pollack had him start grappling. Zimmerman would have learned chokes, arm locks, leg locks -- "Basically make the person say, 'Uncle,'" said Pollack. Training sessions are normally two hours long and Zimmerman would have taken classes 2-3 times each week.
2:45 p.m. ET: Pollack says he met Zimmerman in October 2010: "He came to the gym to lose weight and get in shape." Pollack says he put Zimmerman on a diet and started an exercise program, which was tailored around his schedule.
2:43 p.m. ET:"When you're on the top, you have gravity working for you. So if you strike downward, it's going to be extremely effective for you," said Pollack. He also describes a term called "shrimping" where the person on the bottom tries to get free.
2:42 p.m. ET: O'Mara gets on the ground and has Pollack show him a mounted position. Pollack says the knees of the person on top should be above the waist of the person on the bottom. He says the person on top has a better advantage from this position.
2:39 p.m. ET: On the benefit of getting the first punch in, Pollack says: "If you're effective with it, that's going to put you in a much stronger position over your opponent."
2:38 p.m. ET: Defense attorney O'Mara asks Pollack about the term "ground and pound." Pollack says you have to get an opponent on the ground, keep them on the ground and start striking them from the top, downwards.
"If you're effective with the first blow, that can effectively end the match immediately," said Pollack.
2:35 p.m. ET: Pollack describes mixed-martial arts (MMA) as a "competitive fighting sport that has gotten extremely popular recently." You can fold kickboxing and wrestling into it, according to Pollack.
2:33 p.m. ET: The defense has called Adam Pollack to the witness stand. He is a trainer and has owned a gym for 14 years. He says he has been involved in fight training for most of his life.
2:29 p.m. ET: The attorneys are at a sidebar.
2:28 p.m. ET:"To know that he was hearing the sound that ended his son's life – it was tough to watch," said Singleton. She said Tracy Martin didn't lose it but you could see he was upset. She agreed with the prosecutor that he acted appropriately for a grieving father.
"There's no doubt that he was telling us that it didn't sound like his son to him," said Singleton. She has been excused.
2:26 p.m. ET:"I don't know his exact words but he was telling Chris it was not his son's voice screaming for help," said Singleton. "I was choked up myself. I had to stand back. I could feel how he must feel because I have children. I was choked up by it – I felt horrible for him."
2:25 p.m. ET: The defense has called Doris Singleton to the stand again. She says she was about 8 or 10 feet away from Serino and Tracy Martin when the 911 call was played.
"Mr. Martin's response?" asked O'Mara.
"That it was not his son," said Singleton. "He has his head down, he was wiping his face with tissues." O'Mara has finished his direct examination.
2:22 p.m. ET: Serino says a lot of people don't recognize their own voices on recordings. He didn't think Zimmerman was denying it was his voice on the call. The witness has been dismissed.
2:20 p.m. ET: Serino says Zimmerman told him "that doesn't even sound like me" when he heard the screams on the 911 call. Tracy Martin's girlfriend was providing comfort to him and didn't give her opinion, according to Serino.
2:18 p.m. ET:"Did Mr. Martin's response fit into the other information you already had available?" asked O'Mara.
"At that point in time it did sir," said Serino. He says Tracy Martin never called to hear the 911 call again and he never called to change his opinion of who was yelling in the background. O'Mara has finished his questions.
2:17 p.m. ET: Serino says the screams became an issue later in the case after there was a discrepancy over who was yelling. Defense attorney O'Mara has Serino list all the evidence that it was Zimmerman screaming.
2:14 p.m. ET:"You stated it was under his breath," said de la Rionda.
"Yes, sir," said Serino.
"You interpreted it as he said, 'No,'" said de la Rionda.
"Yes sir," said Serino.
"You didn't flat out hear the word 'no' unequivocally?" asked de la Rionda.
"I heard it and saw the movement of his mouth," said Serino.
"Your opinion is he said, 'No,'" said de la Rionda.
"Yes sir," said Serino.
Serino agrees with de la Rionda that saying, "No," could be seen as denial when being told or hearing that a loved one is dead. De la Rionda has concluded his cross-examination.
2:11 p.m. ET:"It was trying for me, yes it was," said Serino. He says he attempted to be as sensitive as he could as he was dealing with the death of a young boy.
2:09 p.m. ET:"Was he having a hard time dealing with this?" asked prosecutor de la Rionda.
"In my opinion, yes sir," said Serino. He agrees that Tracy Martin wanted some answers and that he didn't excuse himself and wanted to hear all the recordings.
"Is this emotion kind of building up, do you see that building up?" asked de la Rionda.
"It was a very emotional moment, sir," said Serino.
2:07 p.m. ET: Serino says he doesn't recall specifically telling Tracy Martin that he'd hear a shot in the one of the calls, the shot that killed his son. He says he believed Tracy Martin's reaction was appropriate.
2:04 p.m. ET:"I let him listen first before I asked anything. I believe my words were, 'Is that your son's voice in the background' or I think I said it a little differently than that," said Serino. He describes Tracy Martin's response: "It was more of a verbal and non-verbal. He looked away and under his breath, as I interpreted it, said, 'No.'"
Serino says Tracy Martin didn't ask for the tape to be played again. O'Mara has finished his direct examination of Serino.
2:01 p.m. ET: A few days after the shooting, Serino updated Tracy Martin on the case along with his girlfriend. He played all of the recordings for him, including the 911 call made by a neighbor.
1:59 p.m. ET: The sidebar has ended and Serino is being brought back into the courtroom and sworn in.
1:55 p.m. ET: Serino has exited the courtroom. The attorneys are still at a sidebar.
1:53 p.m. ET: Serino waits to be sworn in while the attorneys are still at a sidebar. Martin's father, Tracy, left the courtroom with his attorney and then returned shortly after.
1:47 p.m. ET: The defense has called Chris Serino to the witness stand. He was the lead investigator on the case from the Sanford Police Department and testified earlier for the prosecution. The attorneys are at a sidebar.
1:46 p.m. ET: The 911 call made by a neighbor was played once for Martin's dad and his girlfriend.
"He was very upset, he was very sad, he hung his head, he cried," said Singleton. She isn't allowed to say what Tracy Martin said about the voice heard screaming on the call. She has been excused.
1:43 p.m. ET: The interview with Martin's dad was about two days after the shooting, according to Singleton. Tracy Martin was asking why an arrest wasn't made in the case.
1:40 p.m. ET: The prosecution objects after defense attorney O'Mara starts to ask Singleton about an interview with Martin's father, Tracy. The attorneys are at a sidebar.
1:38 p.m. ET: The defense calls Doris Singleton to the witness stand. She is a detective for the Sanford Police Department and took a statement from Zimmerman shortly after he was arrested. She testified about that earlier for the prosecution.
1:36 p.m. ET: The jury is being seated.
1:29 p.m. ET: The judge is on the bench and the attorneys are at a sidebar.
12:11 p.m. ET: Judge Nelson is recessing court until 1:30 p.m. ET.
12:08 p.m. ET: Donnelly has been excused, and the attorneys are at a sidebar with the judge.
12:07 p.m. ET: Donnelly said he never discussed Zimmerman's non-emergency call with his wife. Donnelly also said he is not augmented his testimony to help Zimmerman's case.
"This courtroom is about truth." said Donnely. "This is where truth is supposed to come out."
12:06 p.m. ET: De La Rionda has finished his questions for Donnelly. O'Mara is now asking Donnelly questions.
12:04 p.m. ET: Donnelly said he could hear Zimmerman call for help on the 911 call. During combat, Donnelly said he has heard a 250 pound man sound like a little girl in combat.
12:02 p.m. ET: Rionda asked Donnelly if Zimmerman's tone changed when he said "(expletive) they always get away," Donnely said he heard it, but he does not think his tone changed.
11:59 a.m. ET: De La Rionda is now playing the non-emergency call Zimmerman made the night of the shooting for Donnelly.
11:57 a.m. ET: Donnelly said he gave Zimmerman's defense about $3,000, and bought Zimmerman about $1,700 worth of suits. He said he feels like Zimmerman is like a son to him.
11:53 a.m. ET: O'Mara is done questioning Donnelly, and now De La Rionda is asking him questions. Donnelly said he heard the 911 call with the screams for the first time two days ago.
11:52 a.m. ET: Donnelly said he has no doubt in his mind that the person screaming on the 911 call was Zimmerman, and he wishes to god he did not have the ability to understand who was screaming on the 911 call.
11:49 a.m. ET: Appearing to choke back tears, Donnelly said he did not want to listen to the 911 call with the screams in the background, because it can be "distressing" to hear a friend cry for help. O'Mara is now playing the 911 call with the screams in the background for Donnelly.
11:47 a.m. ET:"In the midst of combat, there are a lot people yelling and screaming," said Donnelly. "Sometimes they are screaming for help."
11:43 a.m. ET: O'Mara is asking Donnelly about his duties as a medic in combat. Donnelly said he had to attend to people injured in combat, and appeared to be choking back tears. The attorneys are now at a sidebar with the judge.
11:40 a.m ET: Donnelly is talking about his experience with his company of soldiers in Vietnam.
11:35 a.m. ET: O'Mara asked Donnelly about him describe his experience as a combat medic in Vietnam. De La Rionda objected as to the relevance of the question, and now the attorneys are at a sidebar with the judge.
11:34 a.m. ET: Donnelly said he bought Zimmerman some suits and ties for the trial, and he also donated money to Zimmerman's defense fund.
11:32 a.m. ET: Donnelly said Zimmerman was sharp, and one time he tought Zimmerman how to tie a Windsor knot.
11:28 a.m. ET: O'Mara has called John Donnelly to the stand. He is married to Benjamin, and is a Zimmerman's friend.
11:25 a.m. ET: Benjamin has been excused from the witness stand.
11:24 a.m. ET: O'Mara has finished his questions for Benjamin. De La Rionda is now asking her questions.
11:23 a.m. ET: Benjamin said when Zimmerman said "(expletive) punks" he was just making a casual comment.
11:21 a.m. ET: Benjamin said based on the non-emergency call she does not think Zimmerman was angry or acting with ill will.
11:18 a.m. ET: De La Rionda has finished his cross examination of Benjamin. O'Mara is now asking her questions.
11:17 a.m. ET: Benjamin said she has encountered people who use "cussing" in conversations and it does not convey anger.
11:14 a.m. ET: Benjamin said Zimmerman does not seem to be an "excited state" on the non-emergency call when he says "(expletive) punks."
11:12 a.m. ET: De La Rionda is playing a part of the non-emergency call where Zimmerman said Martin is running and he says "(expletive) punks."
11:09 a.m. ET: Benjamin said on the non-emergency call Zimmerman seems to be "manner of fact" like, and he it also seemed like he was walking outside.
11:06 a.m. ET: Benjamin said she has heard only bits and pieces of Zimmerman's non-emergency call from the night of the shooting before today.
11:02 a.m. ET: De La Rionda is playing the non-emergency call Zimmerman made the night of the shooting for Benjamin.
10:59 a.m. ET: Benjamin said it is difficult for her to tell whether the screams on the 911 call were continuous.
10:57 a.m. ET: Benjamin said both times she heard the 911 calls on the news she was cooking.
10:55 a.m. ET: De La Rionda is asking Benjamin all the different times she heard the 911 call with the screams on it. Benjamin said she has heard it on the call on the news.
10:52 a.m. ET: Benjamin said she and her husband have contributed about $2,500 to Zimmerman's defense fund.
10:51 a.m. ET: Benjamin said she believes the screams on the 911 call came from Zimmerman, and she knows what Zimmerman's voice is like when he gets excited. O'Mara has finished his questions for Benjamin. Prosecutor De Le Rionda is now asking Benjamin questions.
10:49 a.m. ET: Benjamin said her connection to the Zimmerman family will not affect her testimony today, because she believes in just telling the court what she knows. O'Mara is now going to play the 911 call with the screams in the background for Benjamin.
10:46 a.m. ET: O'Mara asked Benjamin the first time she spoke with Zimmerman after the shooting. She said she spoke with him a couple of weeks after the shooting.
10:44 a.m. ET: Benjamin said she encouraged Zimmerman to go back to school to get an education in criminal justice.
10:41 a.m. ET: Benjamin said she is friends with Zimmerman, but over the last few years she hasn't seen a lot of Zimmerman, because she has been taking care of her father.
10:37 a.m. ET: Russo said the first time she heard the 911 call she immediately thought it was Zimmerman screaming on it. Russo has been excused, and O'Mara has called Lee Ann Benjamin to the stand. Benjamin worked at real estate company, and would refer her costumers to the insurance company that employed Zimmerman.
10:33 a.m. ET: Russo said she has never heard Zimmerman or Martin yell. However, she believes the voice on the 911 call was Zimmerma. Guy has finished his questions for Russo.
10:31 a.m. ET: O'Mara has finished his direct examination of Russo. Prosecutor John Guy is now asking Russo questions.
10:29 a.m. ET: Russo said she has no doubt in her mind the person screaming on the call is Zimmerman.
10:26 a.m. ET: Russo said she did not speak with Zimmerman until a few months after the shooting. O'Mara is now playing the 911 call with the screams in the background for Russo.
10:23 a.m. ET: O'Mara has called Geri Russo to testify. She worked with Zimmerman at a mortgage company and considers herself Zimmerman's friend.
10:20 a.m. ET: O'Mara is sticking his hands in his pants to demonstrate the internal holster Zimmerman was using the night of the shooting. Osterman said Zimmerman was allowed to use that type of holster, because he had a concealed and carry permit. Osterman has been excused.
10:17 a.m. ET: Osterman said he instructs his wife to a keep a bullet in the chamber of her gun in case she needs it.
10:15 a.m. ET: Osterman said he thinks Zimmerman is more accurate shooting a gun with his right hand. De La Rionda has finished his questions for the Osterman. O'Mara is now asking him questions.
10:14 a.m.. ET: Osterman agreed with De La Rionda when he said it's normal for a police officer to keep a bullet in the chamber of their gun, but it is not normal practice for a citizen to keep a bullet in the chamber.
10:12 a.m. ET: De La Rionda is asking Osterman when he would holster his weapon after shooting someone. Osterman said it would depend on whether he feels the person is armed, and if they are still able to access the weapon.
10:09 a.m. ET: Prosecutor De La Rionda is now asking Osterman about the book he wrote with his wife about Zimmerman.
10:07 a.m. ET: Osterman explained the difference between single action and double action guns to the jury. O'Mara is now down with his questions for Osterman.
10:05 a.m. ET: Osterman said he thinks the screams on the 911 call sound like Zimmerman, because of the tone and volume.
10:02 a.m. ET: O'Mara asked Osterman how familar he is with Zimmerman's voice. Osterman said he is very familar with Zimmerman's voice, because he has known him for five years. O'Mara is going to play the 911 call with the screams in the background.
10:01 a.m. ET: Osterman said Zimmerman writes with his left hand, but shoots with his right hand.
9:59 a.m. ET: Osterman is a Federal Air Marshal, and he said he keeps a bullet in the chamber of his gun at all times in case he needs it. He told Zimmerman to keep a round chambered in his gun in case he needed it.
9:56 a.m. ET: Osterman recommended to Zimmerman to buy the type of firearm that he used to shoot Martin. He says the gun is safe, and reliable.
9:53 a.m. ET: Osterman is explaining how he would visit a gun range with Zimmerman, and how they would discuss gun safety regularly.
9:51 a.m. ET: O'Mara has called Mark Osterman back to the witness stand.
9:49 a.m. ET: O'Mara is now Osterman questions, and he asked if there were any gaps in the screaming. She said there were a lot of screams and it was long.
Osterman has been excused.
9:46 a.m. ET: Osterman said she recognized the voice on the non-emergency call as Zimmerman. De La Rionda also asked Osterman if the screams on a the 911 call that was played for her were continuous screams. She said yes they were continuous.
9:42 a.m. ET: De La Rionda is now playing the entire non-emergency phone call Zimmerman made the night of the shooting for Osterman.
9:38 a.m. ET: De La Rionda is now asking Osterman questions. He played Zimmerman's non-emergency call from the night of shooting for Osterman again.
Osterman said she does not hear Zimmerman say "(expletive) punks" on the non-emergency call.
9:35 a.m. ET: De La Rionda is done with his cross examination of Osterman. O'Mara asked if the recordings that De La Rionda played for Osterman indicate that Zimmerman was mad or acting with ill will. Osterman said she did not think he was angry.
9:32 a.m. ET: De La Rionda played a tape with Zimmerman saying these "(expletives) always get away." Osterman confrims it is Zimmerman saying "(expletives) always get away."
9:30 a.m. ET: O'Mara has completed his questions for Osterman. Prosecutor Bernie De La Rionda is now asking Osterman about a book she wrote with her husband about Zimmerman. She said they are saving the profits from the book for Zimmerman for "after." Likely, referring to after the trial.
9:27 a.m. ET: O'Mara is playing the 911 call where screams can be heard in the background.
After the call is finished playing, O'Mara asks Osterman if she recognizies who is screaming.
"Definitely, it's Georgie." Osterman said choking back tears. "I hear him screaming."
9:24 a.m. ET: Osterman just called Zimmerman "Georgie." She said they used to work together at a mortgage company. O'Mara has asked Osterman about her familiarity with Zimmerman's voice. It appears O'Mara is going to ask Osterman if she recognizes the screams on a 911 call from the night of the shooting as coming from Zimmerman.
9:21 a.m. ET: Sandra Osterman is married Mark Osterman, Zimmerman's best friend. Mark Osterman testified earlier in the trial. The couple are friends with Zimmerman.
9:20 a.m. ET: Defense attorney Mark O'Mara has called Sandra Osterman to the stand as the defense's third witness.
9:16 a.m. ET: The jury is being seated. Testimony should begin shortly.
9:15 a.m. ET: The attorneys are still at a sidebar with the judge.
9:09 a.m. ET: The attorneys are still at a sidebar with the judge.
9:03 a.m. ET: The attorneys are at a sidebar with the judge.
8:59 a.m. ET: Judge Debra Nelson is on the bench. She told the attorneys they have can a a few moments to prepare their materials.
8:56 a.m. ET: Zimmerman is in the courtroom awaiting testimony to begin in a few minutes.
8:33 a.m. ET: Testimony is scheduled to resume at 9:00 a.m. ET.
As defense attorneys in George Zimmerman's trial continue to present their case Monday, the question of whether the former neighborhood watch captain will take the stand looms over the proceedings.
HLN's Nancy Grace said she would not advise Zimmerman to testify if she were representing him, because conventional wisdom says a defendant shouldn't take the stand and be exposed to intense cross-examination.
"Look at what happened to Jodi Arias and her 18 days on the stand. It turned the jury against her," said Grace. "Casey Anthony didn't take the stand, and we saw what happened there, an acquittal."
Vote here: Do you think Zimmerman will have to testify in his defense?
Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder for killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2012. Zimmerman told police that night that the teenager looked suspicious and that there had been several break-ins in the neighborhood. The two got into a physical altercation, and Zimmerman said he was forced to draw his gun and kill Martin in self-defense.
Protests were held around the country when it appeared that Zimmerman wasn't going to be arrested for Martin's death. Zimmerman was eventually charged with second-degree murder in April of 2012. The case has sparked national conversations about race, racial profiling and self-defense laws.
This week, Zimmerman's attorneys are expected to call more of his family members to testify, along with the the responding officer who took the first picture of Zimmerman after the shooting. They may also call Sanford police Det. Chris Serino, the lead investigator in the case, back to stand, and they could also call forensic pathologist and gunshot expert Dr. Vincent DiMaio to support their case.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Animal Species:Ghost Bat
Ghost Bats use their large eyes as well as echolocation to find prey.
Standard Common Name
Ghost Bat
Ghost Bat roost in caves, old mine tunnels and in deep cracks in rocks. They usually roost in colonies, but because many of their roosting sites are being destroyed it is rare to find large colonies.
Feeding and Diet
Ghost Bats are Australia's only carnivorous bats, preying on large insects, frogs, birds, lizards and small mammals including other bats. They swoop on their prey killing with powerful bites, then fly to a feeding site to eat.
Conservation Status
Ghost Bats are vulnerable to disturbance from human visitors to cave roosts, destruction of caves by mining, and loss of feeding habitat by clearing and land degradation from agriculture.
- Species:
- gigas
- Genus:
- Macroderma
- Family:
- Megadermatidae
- Order:
- Chiroptera
- Subclass:
- Eutheria
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
Last Updated:
Tags bats, mammals, flight, flying, eutherians, placentals, vertebrates, identification, bats in Australia,


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According to the National Cancer Institute (at the NIH), mammograms are one effective way to detect tumors and microcalcifications. Mammograms are a type of x-ray. Lumps that cannot be detected via physical examination are often found through mammography screening.
Early detection of breast cancer, either through mammography or through other doctor-recommended diagnostic screening, is vital. It ensures that women can begin treatment as soon as possible, preventing spread of the disease.
The National Cancer Institute specifically recommends a mammogram combined with a clinical breast exam from your doctor as on a regular basis as the most effective methods of detecting breast cancer early. Self-checks, known as breast self-exams or BSE, can also be helpful, though it cannot replace mammograms or clinical exams.


text:
Turns out The Otherside isn't quite done yet. The cut of the Seattle hip-hop documentary that was offered as a press screener earlier this month will not be the same cut that audiences see when the film premieres at the Seattle International Film Festival on May 31.
In a phone call this afternoon, filmmaker Daniel Torok told Seattle Weekly that he will be re-editing the film after, he says, Shabazz Palaces and THEESatisfaction pulled their support.
"I got a lovely call yesterday," Torok says. "They had to gracefully pull out of the film because they didn't agree with the message. It wasn't the same artistic message they were going for."
In a statement later issued by Shabazz Palaces member Tendai Maraire and relayed through Torok, the artist said that "Shabazz Palaces and THEESatisfaction were excluded from the film following a decision that was reached by all parties involved and was arrived at in private. We would prefer to keep it that way."
The 47-minute film, which includes myriad artists from the Seattle scene, features a live performance by Shabazz Palaces, music video footage of THEESatisfaction and a number of soundbites from an interview with Maraire.
"The artists did sign releases, except for Tendai," Torok said. "The only way he was going to sit down is if he could sign off on it in the end. Normally not something we wanted, but was needed in trying to capture the historical relevance of the Seattle hip hop scene."
Tendai provided much of the historical relevance for the film, as I noted in my review of the film. His absence will no doubt change the film, but Torok is confident that between past footage and potential new interviews currently in the works, he will emerge with a cut that stands up to any scrutiny.
Despite the fact that he will spend the next three weeks scrambling to fix his film, the director is sanguine about the development.
"The other guys are pretty disappointed," Torok says, referring to producers J.R. Celski and Vinny Dom. "I still feel like there is a lot to work with."


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Bistro B fills gap in restaurant scene
Shared Dish is a he said/she said look at food, food trends and restaurants.
Eileen Fischer: I'm having a touch of ennui today. We've been writing this column for what is it now, 20 years? I want to keep it fresh, funny, exciting ... but I'm running out of material.
Lee Steele: I've actually lost track of how many of these Shared Dishes we've done, and how long we've been doing them, but I think that for the first year you had to drive me to the restaurants because I wasn't old enough for my learner's permit yet.
E.F.: Recently, we had dinner at a fresh new entry on the downtown Bridgeport restaurant scene, which we walked to, by the way, called Bistro B, one corner away from its sister eatery, the Barnum Publick House.
L.S.: Finally, someone did something with that vacant corner property. And it looks great, like something you'd see on Bedford Street in Stamford.
E.F.: That's because both are owned by restaurateur/real estate developer Steve Montello, who has been part of the Stamford dining renaissance, according to his publicist. I'm always amazed as to how there always seems to be a new restaurant opening every week in one town or another. You were at the cold opening of Bistro B back in August, correct?
L.S.: I wouldn't mention it because it's not fair to comment on a restaurant's opening night, but they were all so on point, and the food so well prepared, I couldn't believe the place was only hours old. They were such pros, just a little more polished than what I'm used to seeing downtown. No one called me "hon" or giggled when I asked about shiitake mushrooms. At one place a block over last week, I ordered a Manhattan and the waitress said to my friend, "What's he saying? I don't have no idea what he's talking about."
EF: The decor and ambience are inviting -- white marble-top bar, high-top tables that I had to jump up on (not a pretty sight), leather banquette seating, tile flooring and a street-side window with a peek into the kitchen, just like the Publick House has.
L.S.: Jumping up wasn't so bad, but the sky dive off the stool is a great way to keep your metabolism hopping.
E.F.: Since we went on a Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. (how very unchic), we had the waiter's complete attention. He was very knowledgeable and attentive. Did we ever get his name?
L.S.: No, we didn't. But with all his wisecracks and sly witticisms, I was pretty sure he knew who we were and that he was gunning for my job. He was a pretty amusing, pleasant guy, and very proper and attentive. Of course, it was like our own private restaurant on a Tuesday night. The waiter told us the kitchen gets its shipments on Tuesdays, after being closed Sundays and Mondays. And if people realize that, maybe the turnout will be stronger. That said, the place that never heard of a Manhattan had a lot more people at the bar on Tuesday.
EF: The menu is simple and defined by "Plates." I thought it's too limited, but you don't agree with me.
L.S.: I don't think a bistro would have a menu any more extensive than what we saw. I thought there was variety and creativity in the offerings.
EF: For appetizers I ordered the pan-roasted mussels in coconut broth and you chose the lamb's lettuce plate since I'm not a lamb fan, but we soon learned our mistake. There was no lamb, just tender, baby greens and roasted artichokes. We quickly switched since you were anxious to share the mussels.
L.S.: That menu item was too clever by half. Yes, it was listed under "garden plates," but the photo online looked just like little baby lamb chops. The play on words had me going. I picked up a "lamb" by the bone and it drooped. But I love artichokes, and these were tasty!
EF: For the entree, I had the hangar steak, which was a tad vinegary, but good, with french fries au naturel accompanied by my own tiny bottle of ketchup. Cute. The steak was perfectly cooked to my requested medium-well order.
L.S.: I wasn't too impressed with the fries, but I liked the jus on your hangar steak.
E.F.: You had the Tuesday special -- winged skate en papillote. Were you impressed by fish steamed in parchment?
L.S.: It was great! It was served over farro and glazed baby carrots. One bite and I wished they had taken it more Mediterranean, with olives and capers. My first skate was pretty great, and you know it's true because it rhymes. Then the waiter was taken by surprise because we did something fewer and fewer diners are doing: We asked about dessert.
EF: I did have room for dessert, although you took your flourless chocolate cake with ice cream home. Did it make it? What did you think?
L.S.: It was a tiny round-molded cake, and it reminded me of the pill you'd have in place of dessert on "The Jetsons." It also had ice cream, to make the course less amuse-bouche-y. It was perfectly good, however, and dense enough to be satisfying. What did you order?
E.F.: I had a deconstructed lemon meringue pie with no pie crust. Instead, a light, delicate sponge cake stood in for the crust. It was lovely on the plate and I enjoyed the lemon curd and meringue.
L.S. The pieces were arranged side-by-side on a long, narrow plate, as if you were meant to scoop up all the pieces with a trowel to "reconstruct" it.
E.F.: I also enjoyed the fresh French press coffee served at the table. I know some people are bemoaning the lack of French restaurants in Fairfield County, so this spot does fill in the gap.
E.F.: It really does fill a void. I always thought the decor of the Publick House seemed a little undercooked, but Bistro B is much more stylish. The bar-to-restaurant ratio indicates an emphasis on wines and, yes, even Manhattan cocktails, which earned no puzzlement from the waiter when I ordered it. Its kitchen is exposed to Bank Street just as the Publick House kitchen has a similar plate glass window along John Street. But that's the only similarity. It's a place where you can get a plate of excellent mussels and a glass of red wine for $20 at the bar, and some high-end, if slightly pricey "large plates" if you're so inclined.
Bistro B, 1006 Broad St., Bridgeport, is open Tuesday-Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. www.bistrob.net.


text:
A cleric does the "god is complicated" dance, with a large helping of "I'm more sophisticated than they are" thrown in. A doorstep fella asked him if he'd found God yet. Oh how vulgar.
It was the formulation of his question that raised my hackles. It implied that God was a comprehensible being awaiting discovery. Scratch the surface of existence persistently enough and he will be revealed.
Well yes. That would be because people like you are always talking about god – talking about god is your profession! – so it's really not all that strange that people think you mean something by it. You treat it as a name, so people hear it as a name.
If god is not a comprehensible being, then why don't you just stop talking about it altogether? Why are you a cleric if you don't think god is a comprehensible being?
If we envisage God as a person clothed with epithets such as powerful, loving, just, fear-inspiring and omnipotent we are creating a manmade image. Sigmund Freud points this out in his book, The Future of an Illusion. "Religion comprises a system of wishful illusions together with a disavowal of reality." In other words we have an innate tendency to invent the particular God that suits our needs. Ironically this is precisely what the second commandment fulminates against. A paradox lies at the heart of the doorstep caller's question. The more you claim to know God and attempt to delineate his nature the less likely you are to have hit the bull's eye.
Well then shut up about it! You can't have it both ways. If we don't know what god is, then we should stop endlessly going on and on about it.
It is only possible to escape from this impasse by re-orienteering our thought forms. Faith is not the progressive unearthing of God's nature but a recognition that he/she is fundamentally unknowable. The signpost points not to growing certainty but towards increasing non-knowing. This is not as outrageous as it seems. An apophatic thread, a belief that the only way to conceive of God is through conceding that he is ineffable, runs throughout Christian history.
Yes but that's just an elegant way of saying the whole thing was an invention from the beginning and it's time to recognize that and move on. If god is fundamentally unknowable, then there is no earthly point in using the word. If god is unknowable then maybe it's a gas, or empty space, or a virus, or a cruel savage demon. If you don't know, then how can there be such a profession as being a vicar? You're not a vicar for all the other things you don't know are you? Why are you a vicar for this one? The [unknown] that has the label "god" – why are you a vicar for it? If you don't know what it is, why do you call it god?
Is anything left or does this destroy the very fabric of spirituality? What remains is a Quakerlike silence during which we can respond to the numinous, develop our perceptions, hone our morality and enhance our wonder at the staggering complexity of the universe. Instead of ranting at the arbitrariness and high-handed conduct of the God we have invented, it is now possible to rest in a cloud of unknowing which gives us time and space in which to reflect on the fundamental questions of life. Why am I here? How can I best deport myself in this bewildering world?
But you can do that anyway. You don't need god for it.
Persist and the rewards are immense. There is an exhilarating sense of newfound freedom. It releases us from the burden of kowtowing to the dictates of a holy book and it relieves us of the intellectual difficulties of accepting the dogmatic assertions of an ecclesiastical hierarchy. We are liberated and can follow our own spiritual path. Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk, spent a lifetime doing just this and found it uncovered an oasis of calmness and peace. "Follow my ways and I will lead you to golden-haired suns, Logos and music, blameless joys, Innocent of questions and beyond answers: For I, Solitude, am thine own self: I, Nothingness, am thy All. I Silence, am thy Amen!" Give it a whirl. I might just free you from the shackles of orthodoxy and kickstart your spiritual life.
I've already given it a whirl. I already don't have the burden of kowtowing to the dictates of a holy book. I already don't accept the dogmatic assertions of an ecclesiastical hierarchy. I don't need apophatic theology for that; no one does.
He doesn't care though, of course. He wants to have it both ways.


text:
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Designed to be a do-it-all backpack for commuters and leisure cyclists, the Roadsign bag from Howies isn't intended as an all-singing, all-dancing technical rucksack. It looks good and it serves a purpose, while adhering to Howies cool image at the same time.
The Roadsign Bag is most noticeable for its large reflective roadsign type logo on the front. In true quirky Howies fashion, this helps make the bag just that bit more visible in low light conditions. With a strong, helpful message for motorists of 'give me space as you pass on the right' it's definitely NOT one to take abroad though.
It's a decent sized bag, with enough space for most of the day's requirements, whether you be office bound or doing the shopping. It'll fit a fair sized laptop - Howies reckon you can get a 17in one in there (mine isn't that big), although whatever laptop you are carrying you'd want it to be in a padded sleeve as the Road Sign bag isn't heavily padded itself. The harness system is quite a simple one, with broad flat straps, but the fit is good, its comfortable and it stays put when you're riding.
There's a mesh pouch pocket for a bottle at one side, and another mesh pocket with Velcro fastening on the other side for bits and pieces. Inside the smaller front zipped compartment, there are organiser pockets aplenty, while the main storage area is sizeable and also contains a zipped security pocket. The bag is made from tough nylon fabric with a good level of water repellency, while the base is a super rugged fabric that'll take a real beating.
In my book £49 isn't bad for a generous, well-made, rugged commuter pack with just a bit of extra cool.
Quirky bag that does a fine job as a shove-it-all-in commuter pack, best not used where they drive on the other side of the road though
road.cc test report
Make and model: Howies Road Sign bag
Size tested: Black
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Aimed at commuter cyclists looking for a practical bag with extra visibility.
Cool and does the job.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
100% nylon fabric
2 main compartments
organiser pockets
Well made from good materials
Did just what it was supposed to do.
This bag isn't going anywhere in a hurry.
Not exactly light, but not over heavy either, especially when you take into account the bomb-proof fabric
Simple harness system is pretty comfortable in normal use, but heavy weights would make the bag hang from the shoulders quite a lot, due to lack of hip belt.
It's well made, and with quirky good looks so £49 isn't too bad at all.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Quirky graphics, simplicity, cavernous main pocket
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Not much.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Possibly.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Probably give as a gift.
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
Capable, durable commuting bag that does double duty as a safety accessory, but only in the UK and anywhere else that drives on the same side of the road.
About the tester
Age: 37 Height: 1.65m Weight: 67kg
I usually ride: My best bike is:
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, mtb,
Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling.
Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other.
She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting.
4 comments
I don't like to disagree with Leonie, but I got one of these for Christmas and it was wending its way back to Howies as soon as the post office re-opened after the holidays.
Awful quality. Awful features.
This bag is reminiscent of those dished out free to conference attendees, or to the language school kids you see milling around tourist sites. For a bag pitched at commuters, laptop storage is a joke. There's seemingly no ergonomic consideration in its design, with limited adjustability on offer, and ill-structured, inadequate padding to back or straps, leaving it totally unsuitable for any activity where you might want to keep a load safe and secure whilst getting a bit of a sweat on, like say, cycling.
Nice reflective panel though.
To offer more constructive comment, I've can heartily recommend and use daily, depending of what I'm carrying, Crumpler and Dakine backpacks, or Timbuk2 and Crumpler messengers. All offering better quality materials, better made, and more considered design.